Daily Outfit - Kate - 2/15/11

Guess what? I've actually come up with a GOOD excuse to not do laundry.

I call it - "outfit creativity"!



This shirt almost never gets worn, unless all my other clothes are either dirty and/or damp and hanging on drying racks. And then I pull this from my closet, and think about its lovely little print and how I never wear it and how I really should. And then I wear it.

This happens a few times a year. Which I guess is enough reason for me to keep the shirt around, eh? :-)

Shirt: thrifted, originally GAP
Tank: Old Navy
Skirt: GAP
Boots: LLBean
Tights: Target
Belt: thrifted
Cowl: handknitted by me!
Earrings; necklace: Mumsie

Daily Outfit - Kate - 2/8/11

Sometimes these "I must be practical. Must wear clothes in which I can walk four miles to work and back" outfits get rather dull.



What is interesting to me, though, is that a year ago I would've been sooooo proud of this exact outfit - for combining textures and colors and working from a well-rounded color palette and resisting the urge to over- or under-accessorize.

But a "WIN!" from a year ago is a "meh" for today.

Meh.

Skirt: GAP
Tank: Target
Cardi: Target
Boots: LLBean
Scarf: Plowsharing Crafts
Earrings: Mum

Daily Outfit - Kate - 1/26/11

I was told yesterday by a very uninformed person that this outfit was "over the top" because I was wearing a "corset".



The perils of being surrounded by nerds, I guess. (The perils of being surrounded by one hyperactive large blonde dog musn't be discounted, either)

But despite all that, I love this waistcoat.

I also wanted to talk about that buttondown for a minute. I have had it for several years - I think I bought it during my first "must obtain a work wardrobe" shopping trips back in 2008. It doesn't do a lot for me, but it also doesn't...not do a lot for me. I rarely wear it and yes it's taking up a hanger and 1/8" of valuable closet space, but I'm not about to get rid of it. This seems to be one of those basic items that when ya need it, ya need it. Right?

I really liked this outfit. This one may appear again :-)

EVERYTHING (waistcoat, jeanskirt, buttondown): Old Navy
Boots: LLBean
Ring: Booth at Maple Leaf festival
Necklace: MOM!

Daily Outfit - Kate - 1/24/11

GUESS WHAT?!?!

I just finished this sweater!



GUESS WHAT ELSE?

That's a crappy picture! So here's a better one - of an almost-identical outfit - from Sunday!



I <3 my new sweater. I <3 that I made it.

This outfit was the perfect cozy winter getup. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to get daylight pics, because my awesome Scarfshop scarf matched the teal in my sweater *perfectly*. And I know I don't usually go for matchy-matchy, but I think there are worse things in life than matching your scarf to your sweater, right? The corduroy skirt and quintessential LLBean boots just make everything wonderful.

dark purple + teal + grey + cream = my new favorite. *Really* wish I had better pics so it could be your new favorite too.

Cardigan: ME!!!!!
Turtleneck: Target
Scarf: Scarfshop
Skirt: GAP
Boots: LLBean
Tights: Target
Earrings: MUM!

Daily Outfit - Kate - 12/15/10

This outfit.



This outfit is the cursed thing I was wearing when I cried at work. When my lemon bars completely failed me. And when I hit an acquaintance's parked car.

I love all of these pieces individually, and none of them have failed me before.

Therefore I must figure that it's the combination - innocuous though it may seem - which is deadly.

NEVER AGAIN.

Tee: so old it doesn't matter
Cardi: Target
Skirt: GAP
Boots: Fluevog
Scarf/shawl: MEEE!!!
Earrings: Gift from Jeff, two Christmases ago :-)

Daily Outfit - Kate - 11/22/10

I'm still fighting this stupid cold.

So yesterday I wore new Fluevogs to help:



It didn't work. I may still lose a lung at any moment.

Also? It was 70+ degrees yesterday. END OF NOVEMBER FAIL.

Skirt: thrifted; originally Talbot's
Tee: GAP
Cardigan: Sears, approx 58,000 years ago
Shoes: Fluevog, via endless.com
Earrings: mum
Bracelet: Tiffany & Co.

Daily Outfit - Kate - 11/1/10

How pale am I?



SO PALE THAT WHEN I LOOKED AT THIS PHOTO I THOUGHT "HMM I DON'T REMEMBER WEARING WHITE TIGHTS TODAY."

THAT'S HOW PALE.

Yeesh!



This picture cracks me up. I'm gazing majestically into the distance.

And by "gazing majestically into the distance" I mean "looking at a bug on the ceiling."

Same thing.

That scarf knot is one I learned from Une Femme d'un Certain Age's awesome tutorial post, btw. It rocks. Now I need more large square scarves! :-D

Dress: LLBean
Scarf: Plowsharing Crafts (in the Loop)
Boots: 704b, via DSW
Earrings: Mom

Daily Outfit - Kate - 10/20/10

OK this is all kinds of confusing. So let me say two things:

1)Tuesday's outfit was AWESOME. But then after work I went to pick up my LLBean boots from the shoe repair shop, and then I decided to trade in my black heeled boots (which I'd been wearing that day) so they could re-glue the toes for me. So that sort of ruined the effect of the outfit. BUT it was *originally* my long purple skirt, grey tee, black cardi, black heeled boots, and silver jewelry. It was supercool. I will have to repeat that one.

2)I have no idea what happened to my face here. Or my pose. Or my dog. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON WITH ANYTHING.



You try and sort it out - 'cause I sure can't!

BUT - FLUEVOGS ROCK. that's all.

Tee: Old Navy
Skirt: Gap
Shawl: handknitted by YT
Boots: FLUEVOG
Earrings: mum

Daily Outfit - Kate - 10/7/10

I won't call this an outtake. I must call it 'the best of the lot.'

And also, 'damn that dog.'



Perturbed much?

(PS I really liked this grey + purple + blue + white + brown color palette.)

Top: NY&Co, 2010
Tee: Target
Belt: Target
Skirt: GAP, 2009
Boots: LLBean
Necklace: mumsie
Earrings: Twisted Silver

Daily Outfit - Kate - 9/27/10

It's finally cool enough to wear my new LLBean dress!

Just a shame that I got home so late tonight - too dark for good pictures. Alas.



So comfy. So cute. I love it!

Since the dress is really PURPLE, I decided to keep all other accessories to a minimum. Just the boots, a small necklace, and my amethyst stud earrings.

I bought this necklace back in early summer, when my job was in jeopardy and I had no spending money. I wandered into Macy's on my lunch break and found this and it was just too cute not to own - especially at the bargain clearance price of $4 ;-) It was a big indulgence for me, then. How sad is that?

And oh, how glad I am that things have turned around :-)



I dunno what that face is. Napoleon Dynamite impression? :-P

Dress: LLBean, 2010
Boots: 704b, via DSW, 2009
Necklace: Fossil, via Macy's, 2010
Earrings: oooooooold - gift from parents

Daily Outfit - Kate - 9/16/10

Have I mentioned lately that I love this skirt?



I think I subconsciously planned this entire outfit to make myself feel pretty and feminine and happy, at a time when I really just feel tired and gross and lazy. I didn't do it on purpose, I swear!

Cardigan: Target
Tee: GAP
Skirt: thrifted, originally Talbot's
Shoes: Kenneth Cole, via DSW
Necklace: vintage, from Mom
Earrings: Meierotto's Jewelry, KC

Daily Outfit - Kate - 8/30/10

One picture day, though that does *not* accurately reflect how I felt about this outfit:



I LOVED THIS. So cute. So fun. I've been wanting a waistcoat for *ages* and I finally got one and it's purple and corduroy and happy and it's everything I hoped for and more! I think wearing a puffy shirt under it may be my new favorite.

The shoes though? NOT my new favorite. They killed my feet ded. I kicked them off as soon as I walked in the door and my feet were so swollen they looked like they belonged on a 45-year-old obese WalMart shopper with a pair or yorkies and a pink scrunchie in her bleach-blond hair.

Which is my way of saying: in this case, you get what you pay for.

Skirt: GAP, super old
Top: Old Navy, 2009
Waistcoat: Old Navy, 2010
Heels: Madden Girl via Marshall's, 2010

Daily Outfit - Kate - 8/26/10

Today, I am blurry.




For real, and for pictures.

'Tis a shame, because I think this outfit - with corduroy and woven cotton, and comfy summery flats - perfectly embodied A. from Academichic's recent discussion about summer/fall transitional outfits.

I could go into a bunch of detail here but really it just boils down to: I missed my corduroy skirt. I like this top. It's cold so I wear a cardigan.

Practicality FTW!

Top: a billion years old.
Cardigan: Target
Skirt: GAP, fall 2009
Flats: Dillards, circa 2007ish
Necklace: booth at Strange Folk, 2008
Earrings: mumsie

The Spoils: LLBean

I did it.

You knew I was gonna do it, right?

Really, I think we should just accept it, and move on.

Fact of the matter is, an LLBean Closet Craving will, almost inevitably, turn into an LLBean The Spoils.

It just happens. Don't ask me how, 'cause I have no freaking idea.



But...how could I resist?

The sleeves that can be worn down or rolled up.

The fine-wale corduroy.

The adorable removable sash (I'm going to wear this with, like, every belt I own.)

The perfect length and fit (you'll just have to trust me here; in the August heat I couldn't wear it for one second longer than absolutely necessary).

The super feminine detailing.




This dress and I? We were meant to be.

Now the real challenge is - can I resist ordering it in blue, too?

Daily Outfit - Kate - 5/20/10

As long as the October-like weather sticks around in St. Louis, I'm gonna wear October-like outfits.



But more importantly - I've got my camera back! So much happiness. So much *still* to learn about self-photography. I've got the remote hidden in my pocket here, but alas there's no one to tell me "You're standing funny - it looks like you don't have a waist."

I'm going to start training Roxie to help me out with that. I'm sure she'd be capable and willing, right?

Right?

This outtake cracks me up:



I call it, "Is this thing on?"

:-P

Skirt: GAP, fall 2009 (best. $20 investment. ever.)
Cardigan: Old Navy, eons ago
Tee: Gap, 2009ish
Boots: LLBean
Necklace and earrings: mamma mia

Daily Outfit - Kate - 5/18/10

I can take these photos one of two ways:

1)"Obviously I'm still working out this whole 'photography with timer' thing."

or

2)"I call this pose...abandoned marionette!"




Next, we have either
1)"Look ma! My neck!"

or

2)"Wow that bitch has orange hair."



I'll leave it up to you, and whatever particularly tickles your funnybone.


Skirt: thrifted, originally Talbots
Tee: garage sale in Kirksville circa 2006
Cardigan: Target, early spring 2010
Flats: Born, summer 2008
Necklace: Kohl's? Forever 21? Something...circa 2003 or 2004
Earrings: pearl studs; Meierotto's

Daily Outfit - Kate - 3/16/10

It's like deja vu all over again!


This is actually a first for me, though - my first time since we started this blogging adventure, that I've duplicated an outfit.

What can I say? I loved it the first time 'round, my co-workers haven't seen it (though that's not really a valid argument - I could walk in the door with my head on fire and they wouldn't notice. Architects, y'know.), and I can't wear what I *really* want to, as it all needs to be washed (too bad there's not a magical washing-box where you put dirty clothes in and clean ones come out, eh?).

But still, I'm a bit disappointed in my own lack of creativity and ambition.



Overshirt: Sears, circa 2002-ish
Undershirt: Target, 2008 or 2009
Skirt: GAP, winter 2009/10
Tights: Hellmart
Boots: 704b, via DSW
Earrings: Mumsie
Bracelet: So old I don't remember

Do you ever duplicate outfits? If so, do you have any "rules" associated with it?

Daily Outfit - Kate - 2/25/10

If I were a better outfit-maker, I'd have incorporated more purple (besides just the corduroy skirt) into this ensemble. Unfortunately, 4 days of insomnia has taken its toll on me, so let's just thank [deity] that I remembered to put a skirt on over my slip, eh?


Hey, I already said I was exhausted. So I won't apologize for the slumpy shoulders and goony expression. MY EYES ARE OPEN. WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT?!



I love this bib-style shirt. It gives that "Oh hai, boobs!" effect for those of us who aren't naturally blessed ;-)


<3

Shirt: Nordstrom Rack
Layering tee: Target
Skirt: GAP
Tights: Hellmart
Boots: LLBean
Belt: Target
Earrings: mamma mia

Daily Outfit - Kate - 2/5/10

You can't tell from the way I'm posting (ummm...no Internet postmarks :-P) but I'm blogging from our super-nice room in the Fairfield in downtown Chicago. Jeff is off doing envinronmental lawyery studenty things, and I just came back from breakfast. Just setting the stage for ya.

Here's yesterday's outfit, which was worn in cab --> St. Louis MetroLink --> Amtrack --> CTA bus --> CTA train --> CTA bus --> FIELD MUSEUM --> CTA bus --> dinner. So it got around (and you're catching it at its third-to-final stop, when we were in the Field Museum :-)


That's how I was running around for most of the day. Do I look exhausted and like my feet were killing me and like my shoulder was numb from hauling around a day bag with my Nikon, 300g of sock yarn (3 pairs' worth), my stainless travel mug and other purse necessities? I hope not!

The outfit under that superwarm wool coat (seriously worth every penny. LLBean knows outerwear!!!):

I actually put more thought into this than I do my usual daily outfits. The flat boots were a must, and I actually figured that Friday would be less running around than other days, so I chose the least-comfortable of my flat boots. That corduroy skirt and red scarf are pretty much like a security blanket for me at this point; I knew I wouldn't want to feel like *everything* around me was unfamiliar (which was nice, because we spent a good chunk of the day L-O-S-T LOST.

I look kinda psychotic here, but look! It's Sue!


Coat: LLBean (mine is the older style - not the "new and improved" linked there).
Boots: 704b, via DSW
Skirt: GAP, fall 2009
Scarf: Plowsharing Crafts, summer 2009
tights: Hellmart
tee: Target
flowered shirt: Sears, circa 2001. I wear it rarely but keep it because I LOVE that print!
earrings: mummie